Modular exterior rearview mirror assembly

ABSTRACT

An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles includes a housing, a mirror support, a mirror element and other elements such as a mirror actuator or lighting unit each formed as a separate module and connected to each other by plug type or locking connectors. Electric conductors are integrated in the modules and/or connectors. A lower housing part receives an upper housing part along corresponding, generally horizontally extending, contact surfaces to form an exterior surface on the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns exterior mirrors for vehicles, and especially anexterior mirror including a housing, a mirror or glass support andmirror element or glass body formed in separate modules which areconnected to each other by plug type or locking connectors. In addition,the invention relates to the inclusion of energy supply wires orelectrical conductors for electrically driven components which areintegrated in the modules and/or in the plug type and lockingconnectors.

Prior known rearview mirror assemblies, and especially exterior rearviewmirror assemblies have required the careful assembly of variouscomponents in a piece-meal and time consuming fashion. The presentinvention considerably simplifies the former style of conventional motorvehicle exterior mirrors typically used on passenger cars, vans, ormotor trucks. In addition, because the exterior mirror is a vehicle partwhich projects from the vehicle body and thus forms the extreme lateralextension of a vehicle, the present invention also expands thefunctionality of the exterior mirror and takes advantage of its positionon the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a housing, a mirror or glass support anda mirror element or glass body for an exterior rearview mirror forvehicles which are separately formed modules linked together by plugtype and locking connectors. Consequently, the logistic expense formanufacturing the wide variety and continuously growing diversity ofexterior mirrors for varying vehicles is considerably reduced.

In the event the exterior mirror has a built-in, adjustable mechanism oractuator for the mirror or glass element or body, it is preferred thatthe actuator be included as an additional separate module which can beplugged into or locked with the mirror support and mirror element.

Furthermore, it is preferred to imprint electrical strip conductors onthe mirror or glass support and to provide suitable electric contactpins on the actuator mechanism for contact with the strip conductorsthrough connection with the mirror support. A preferred version of theinvention provides for integrated electric heating in the mirror glassbody module with terminal lugs which make contact with the stripconductors when in connection with the mirror or glass support.Moreover, the housing is preferably made of two separate parts, forexample, an upper and lower part which, when assembled, can be lockedtogether enclosing the mirror or glass support. For purposes of goodtorsional stability, it is also preferred that the mirror or glasssupport and/or housing parts be in a clam-shell shape. The mirror glasssupport includes an electric plug type connector whose contacts areconnected with the strip conductors at a position close to the mirrorbase.

In other forms of the invention, a light module is attached to the frontexterior mirror. Such a module or light module can encompass particularfunctions such as turn, stop and position signals, or can be built as amulti-functional element which combines the previously mentionedsignals, i.e., incorporates all of these ways of giving signals in asingle light module.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing is composed ofa lower and upper parts. The lower part includes as an appropriatesupport module adapted to the mirror or glass body and/or the mirror orglass support, to the adjustable driving mechanism or actuator for themirror or glass support and/or mirror or glass body, to the lightmodule, as well as to the housing upper part. The housing lower partincludes a support module and, thus, is the module which establishes theconnection to and support on the vehicle and the necessary electricalunits. Preferably, the housing lower part, on the side closest to thevehicle, has an articulated pivot or link which also includes theappropriate electrical contacts. These can be placed on the lateralforepart of the articulated link or pivot or on its cover or bottomarea. Preferably, the electrical contacts are sliding contacts.

In addition, the light module itself is placed on the far side of thehousing lower part from the vehicle and is located on the exterior ofthe housing so that it is flexible and adaptable as a module and not anintegrated component. To this end, the housing upper part has aprotruding tongue overlapping the light module on the side farthest fromthe vehicle. From a purely optical point of view, the overall exteriormirror then appears as one single unit. The light module is alsoprovided with necessary electrical contacts such that the light modulecan be fitted to the housing lower part support module by means of adovetail joint. The electrical contacts are arranged and shaped on thelight module so that they will accommodate or be included in thedovetail joint.

The articulated link or pivot of the housing lower part has a verticalbore or hole for receiving a pivot pin allowing the entire exteriormirror to be rotatable and pivotable. On the side of the housing upperpart which is closest to the vehicle, a cap is placed on the articulatedlink or pivot, or at least partially containing that link or pivot. Thecap extends over the articulated link or pivot of the housing lowerpart. The cap also includes an axial bore or hole, coaxially alignedwith the bore hole of the articulated link or pivot so as to createoptical unity when viewed from the exterior.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of theinvention will become more apparent from a study of the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of themodular exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of themodular exterior rearview mirror assembly of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, a first embodiment ofthe invention is shown in FIG. 1. The housing is composed of an upperpart 1 and a lower part 2 made of highly shock resistant syntheticmaterial and designed as a clam shell. Upper part 1 has the shape of asomewhat elongated, reversed U and terminates in a curved lower surface3 provided with connectors or stop links. On the end facing the positionof the vehicle on which the mirror is intended to be mounted, upper part1 has a roughly circular opening 4 which partially receives the mirrorbase end extremity of mirror or glass support 10 when assembled. On therear side with respect to the direction of motion, housing part 1 isprovided with a half opening 5 which locks the mirror or glass body 20in the upper area after assembly. In addition, a fork 6 is shaped fromthe upper housing part 1, displaced inwardly in relation to the halfopening 5, and receives in between an adjustable mechanism or actuator30 for mirror or glass body 20.

Lower housing part 2 corresponds to the upper housing part 1, resemblesa tub, and has an upper periphery 7 which is provided withcounterlocking devices or connectors which receive those on the upperpart. Thus, upper housing part 1 is locked into place with the lowerhousing part 2 by means of locking devices provided in areas 3 and 7. Onthe end closest to the vehicle, lower housing part 2 has an upwardopening corresponding to opening 4 such that the base end or nearextremity 12 of mirror or glass support 10 is caught between the upperhousing part 1 and lower housing part 2 when these are connected. Lowerhousing part 2, like upper housing part 1, is made of highly shockresistant synthetic material and is also designed as a clam shell. Edge5 of upper housing part 1 blends into edge 8 of lower housing part 2encompassing the mirror or glass body 20 from below after assembly.

Mirror or glass support 10 is also made of strong, synthetic materialand designed as a clam shell showing the shape of a kind of hollowplate. Through appropriate shapes in the interior of the upper housingpart and lower housing parts, mirror or glass support 10 is containedinside the space surrounded by housing parts 1 and 2. Several electricstrip conductors 14, 16, 18 are imprinted on the synthetic material ofmirror or glass support 10. These are electrically connected with pinsof a tip jack 15 provided in the extremity 12 of mirror support 10. Eachstrip connector ends in a jack 11, 13, 17 shaped in the material of theglass support, each having an electric conductive strip inside.Furthermore, mirror support 10 has a central, somewhat ellipticalopening 19 into which the appropriately shaped adjustable mechanism oractuator 30 for mirror or glass support 20 can be inserted and locked.The actuator has a somewhat elliptical housing receiving the electricregulating motors 31 for mirror or glass body 20. The electricalconnections of the driving motors are linked with contact pins 33, 37,39 protruding sideways from the body of the actuator 30 such that, whenassembling the actuator, they reach the openings in jacks 11, 13, 17where they make an electrical connection with strip 315 conductors 14,16, 18.

When the mirror or glass body is provided with integrated heating and/oris composed of an electrochromic mirror, electric contact pins 22, 24,26, 28 are lined up side-by-side on the back of the mirror or glassbody. These are locked in jacks 32, 34, 36, 38 on the front side of thehousing of the adjustable mechanism or actuator 30. Each of these jacks32, 34, 36, 38 contains an electric contact, which either leads to anadditional connection on each contact pin 30, 37 or 39 or is loopedthrough the housing of actuator 30 and makes contact with the sameexisting strip contactors when positioning the actuator housing inopening 19.

The base side extremity of glass support 10 is vertically drilled forinsertion of a pivot pin through bore hole 40, whereby the folding andswiveling or pivoting axis 42 for the mirror subassembly, in relation tothe mirror base, extends along the centerline of the bore hole 40.

A second embodiment 50 of the exterior rearview mirror assembly is shownin FIG. 2. A housing lower part 52 forms the actual support module forall other adaptable modules as well as housing upper part 53. Housinglower part 52 includes a saddle part 62 on which is arranged, forexample, adjustable driving mechanism or actuator 57 or mirror glasssupport 54 for the adjustment of the position of mirror or glass body55. On side 63 of saddle part 62, facing the direction of oncomingtraffic, and on side 64 facing the rear side which is opposite theoncoming traffic direction, shaped brackets 65 and 66 are provided onwhich housing upper part 53 partially rests. Brackets 65 and 66 can alsobe part of light module 56. Brackets 65 and 66 are not overlapped byhousing upper part 53 such that bracket 65, for example, has on itsforepart 67 a useful arrangement of signal giving light emitting diodes(LEDs) 68. Light module 56 is placed on end 73 of the housing lower part52 which is farthest from the vehicle. In order to insure electricalflow, light module 56 consists of contacts 76 schematically representedin FIG. 2, which are connected with appropriate counter contacts ofhousing lower part 52 designed as the support module. All types ofconnections assuring a simple and easy assembly should be considered. Onend 60 of housing lower part 52 which is designed as the support module,a protruding articulated link 58 is provided at the side of saddle part62. Since housing lower part 52 establishes the actual connection withthe vehicle, the appropriate electrical contacts 59 must also beprovided here. For example, they can be located on the cover side 71,bottom area 72, or the lateral forepart 70 of articulated link 58.

For practical reasons, contacts 59 are made as sliding contacts. Inorder to receive a pin, articulated link 58 is provided with a bore hole77 through which runs a pivot axis 69. Housing upper part 53 fits thelower housing part 52, at least partially, in a saucer-typeconfiguration. On end 61 closest to the vehicle, a cap shape 78 extendsover articulated link or pivot 58 of housing lower part 52. In the cap,an axial bore hole 79 is provided which fits coaxially with bore hole 77of articulated link 58. On end 74 farthest from the vehicle, aprotruding tongue 75 extending to the light module 56 juts out from thehousing main part. Light module 56 can be subdivided into various signalsectors 80, 81 as represented in FIG. 2.

While several forms of the invention have been shown and described,other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore,it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings anddescribed above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are notintended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by theclaims which follow.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are as follows:
 1. An exterior rearview mirrorassembly for a vehicle comprising:a housing; a mirror element; and amirror support for mounting said element within said housing; saidhousing including an upper part, a lower part, and a connection formounting said assembly on a vehicle; each of said upper and lower partshaving an exterior wall defining a shell having a rim for partiallyenclosing said mirror support and mirror element and exposing saidmirror element for viewing, said shell on each of said upper and lowerparts terminating in generally horizontally extending, curved contactsurface, said contact surfaces corresponding with and engaging oneanother and forming a horizontal joint at which said upper and lowerparts are joined together, said shells combining to form an exteriorsurface on one side of said assembly, and an opening exposing saidmirror element for viewing on the side of said assembly opposite saidone side when said upper and lower parts are joined at said contactsurfaces.
 2. The mirror assembly of claim 1 including an electricalactuator having at least one motor which adjusts the position of saidmirror element, said actuator mounted on said mirror support within saidhousing.
 3. The mirror assembly of claim 2 wherein said actuator andsaid mirror support include plug and socket connections for locking saidactuator on said mirror support.
 4. The mirror assembly of claim 3wherein said mirror support includes electrical conductors forconnecting said actuator to a source of electrical power, saidelectrical conductors being connected to said actuator through said plugand socket connections.
 5. The mirror assembly of claim 4 wherein saidmirror support includes a surface on which said electrical conductorsare formed, said electrical conductors extending from said connectionfor mounting said assembly to the vehicle to said plug and socketconnections.
 6. The mirror assembly of claim 5 wherein said connectionfor mounting said assembly to the vehicle includes a pivot whereby saidhousing may be folded with respect to the vehicle, said electricalconductors including strip conductors forming sliding contacts on asurface adjacent said pivot.
 7. The mirror assembly of claim 4 whereinsaid mirror element is selected from the group consisting of a heatedmirror element and an electrochromic mirror element, said mirror elementand said actuator including plug and socket electrical connectionswhereby electrical connections are established from said electricalconductors on said mirror support to said selected heated orelectrochromic mirror element through said actuator.
 8. The mirrorassembly of claim 2 wherein said mirror support includes an openingtherein, said actuator being mounted in said opening.
 9. The mirrorassembly of claim 1 including a light module mounted on said mirrorsupport; said mirror support including electrical conductors forconducting electricity from said connection for mounting said assemblyto the vehicle to said light module when mounted on said assembly. 10.The mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein said connection for mounting saidassembly to the vehicle includes a pivot whereby said housing may befolded with respect to the vehicle, said electrical conductors includingstrip conductors forming sliding contacts on a surface adjacent saidpivot.
 11. The mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein said light moduleincludes electrical contacts engaged with said electrical conductors onsaid mirror support when said light module is mounted on said assembly.12. The mirror assembly of claim 9 wherein said assembly includes afirst end including said connection for mounting said assembly on thevehicle and second end opposite said first end and spaced farthest fromsaid connection; said light module mounted at said second end.
 13. Themirror assembly of claim 9 wherein said light module includes aplurality of signal sectors.
 14. The mirror assembly of claim 1including at least one light emitting diode mounted on said housing toprovide signals.
 15. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehiclecomprising a plurality of modules which are joined together andconnected to each other by plug-type and locking connectors to form saidassembly, said plurality of modules including a mirror element and atleast one of a housing and a mirror support and at least one of anelectric actuator and a light module; said assembly including electricalconductors integrated in at least one of said housing, said mirrorsupport and said mirror element, said electrical conductors conductingelectricity to at least one of said electric actuator and said lightmodule when said one of said electric actuator and light module isconnected to at least one of said housing, said mirror support and saidmirror element whereby electrical energy is provided to said at leastone of said electric actuator and said light module.
 16. The exteriormirror assembly of claim 15 wherein said light module is a turn signallamp.
 17. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 15 wherein said lightmodule is a stop light.
 18. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 15wherein said light module is a multifunction element.
 19. An exteriorrearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising a housing, a mirrorsupport, a mirror element, and a light module each formed as a separatemodule and connected to each other by plug-type and locking connectors,said assembly including electrical conductors integrated in said modulesand in said plug-type and locking connectors whereby electrical energyis provided through said assembly to said light module; said housingincluding a lower part and an upper part, said lower part being asupport module receiving said mirror support, said mirror element, anadjustable actuator for adjusting the position of said mirror element,said light module, and said housing upper part.
 20. The exterior mirrorassembly of claim 19 wherein said housing lower part includes a pivotconnection having electrical contacts therein.
 21. The exterior mirrorassembly of claim 20 wherein said electrical contacts are placed on asurface of said pivot.
 22. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 21wherein said electrical contacts are sliding contacts.
 23. The exteriormirror assembly of claim 20 wherein said pivot connection has asvertical bore hole for the purpose of receiving a pivot pin.
 24. Theexterior mirror assembly of claim 23 wherein said housing has a firstend closest to the vehicle and a second end farthest from the vehicle,said housing upper part includes a cap on said first end extending oversaid pivot connection on said housing lower part.
 25. The exteriormirror assembly of claim 24 wherein said cap includes an axial borehole, coaxially aligned with said vertical bore hole of said pivotconnection.
 26. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 19 wherein saidhousing has a first end closest to the vehicle and a second end farthestfrom the vehicle, said light module being mounted on said second end ofsaid housing lower part.
 27. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 26wherein said light module is located on the exterior of said housing.28. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 26 wherein said housing upperpart includes a protruding tongue overlapping said light module onsecond end of said housing.
 29. The exterior mirror assembly of claim 15wherein at least one of said electrical actuator and said light modulehas electrical contacts engaging said electrical conductors.
 30. Theexterior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15 wherein electricity isprovided to said electrical actuator.
 31. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 15 wherein electricity is provided to said electricalactuator and to said light module.
 32. The exterior rearview mirrorassembly of claim 15 wherein said mirror element is an electrochromicmirror and electricity is provided to said electrochromic mirror.